Sinker tube for knitting machines



m- 7, 1937. w. A. INGALLS 2,092,700

SINKER TUBE FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 25. 1955 Patented Sept. 7, 1937 UNITED STATES SINKER TUBE FOR KNITTING MACHINES Willis A. Ingalls, Syracuse, N. Y.

Application January 25, 1935, Serial No. 3,422

4 Claims.

This invention relates to certain improvements in sinker tubes for knitting machines involving the use of a shaft or spindle movable endwise through the tube and carrying at its inner end asuitable bracket upon which the sinker bur is mounted together with suitable means on the outer end of the shaft for adjusting the latter, with the bur-supporting bracket thereon, endwise to bring the bur into proper relation to the knitting needles of the machine.

This shaft is yieldingly held in its adjusted positionby means of a coil spring surrounding the portion of the shaft within the tube, to compensate for the excessive thicknesses of the yarn engaged by the blades of the bur to prevent injury to the needles or overstraining of the yarn, and one of the objects of the present invention is to provide suitable means adjustable at will, while the machine is in operation, for varying the tension of the spring.

The outer end of the shaft is usually threaded and engaged by a hand nut, whereby the shaft may be closely adjusted with or against the action of the spring to bring the sinker bur into the most efiicient position. for engaging the yarn with the needles, it being understood that the bur-supporting bracket is also adjustable, axially and angularly, relatively to the axis of the shaft for additionally setting the bur to the desired position.

In this construction, as previously used, it sometimes happens that when the hand nut is ad justed rotarily, to effect the proper cndwise adjustment of the shaft and sinker bracket carried thereby, it will also turn the shaft and bur-supporting bracket carried thereby angularly in the same direction, thereby throwing the bur out of proper alinement with the needles.

Another object, therefore, of the present invention is to provide means for releasably locking the shaft against rotation whereby the rotary adjustment of the hand nut may be accomplished without affecting the adjustment of the bur or interfering with the free axial movement of the shaft and parts carried thereby.

It also becomes necessary or expedient under certain conditions during the operation of the machine to draw the shaft outwardly by hand and thereby to disengage the bur from the yarn and needles and to hold the shaft in its outwardly drawn position for a greater or less period of time, i

and a further object of the invention is to provide simple means, releasable at will, for temporarily holding the shaft in its outwardly drawn position.

A still further object'of this invention resides in providing simple means for accurately positiom ing and maintaining the sinker burin operative relation with the yarn and needles as the shaft and bur connected therewith are released from the outwardly drawn inoperative position and moved inwardly tothe operative position.

' Another object is to provide means for locking the hand nut to the shaft to permit the latter with the bur-supporting bracket thereon to be turned to the desired angle or withdrawn endwise rela tively to the needles and yarn without changing the relation between the shaft and nut.

An additional object is to provide the hand nut with a suitable indexing device whereby the amount of endwise adjustment of the shaft from the given position may be easily and quickly determined.

Other objects and uses relating to specific parts of the device will be brought out in the following description taken in connection with the accornpanying drawing, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a sinker tube and associated parts including the bur supporting 1 bracket and bur thereon, a portion of the stand for supporting this sinker tube being shown by broken lines;

Figure 2 is an inverted plan of the device shown in Figure l with the outer end portion of the bur supporting bracket broken;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View taken on line 3-3, Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken in the plane of the line 44, Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a guide member adapted to cooperate with the sinker tube for maintaining the sinker bur in operative relation with the knitting needlesyand Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the guide member illustrated in Figure 5.

As illustrated in the drawing, my device co1nprises a sinker tube having an intermediate body or barrel portion l, and inner and outer end heads 2 and 3 arranged in axially spaced relation. The heads 2 and 3 are provided respectively with guide openings 4 and 6' for receiving a shaft 5 that is slidably and rotatably mounted therein for properly positioning the sinker bur relatively to the yarn and needles of the knitting machine, not

shown.

A bur supporting bracket 6 is mounted upon the inner end of the shaft 5 for angular and axial movement relative thereto. The bracket is held in its adjusted position on the shaft 5 by means of a set screw 6'. The inner end of said bracket is provided with a spindle 1 upon which is rotata ably mounted the bur wheel 8, as shown in Figure 1.

The outer end of the shaft 5 extends some distance beyond the corresponding head 3 of the tube and is preferably threaded and engaged by a hand nut 9 composed of coaxial sections it and H that are connected by a clamping screw or bolt 12, located at one side of the adjacent portion of the shaft 5, as shown more clearly in Figure 3. The nut sections l and II are preferably provided with circular disks H) and II respectively. The disk if! is provided with an aperture It at one side of the shaft for loosely receiving the screw or bolt l2 which is passed through the aperture it" in parallel relation with the shaft 5 and has its inner end threaded and engaged in a threaded aperture provided in the adjacent portion of flange H of the nut section II, as clearly shown in Figure 3.

This eccentric connection of the bolt l2 with the nut sections ii) and H serves as a means for locking and releasing said nut sections to and from the threaded portion of the shaft.

That is, when the clamping bolt i2 is tightened, it serves to frictionally lock the nut sections upon the threads of the shaft against relative rotary movement, so that when the shaft is adjusted axially to produce a predetermined stitch, it will maintain that adjustment to produce the same stitch even though the shaft may be temporarily displaced from its operative position and incidentally will enable the shaft to be rotated by the nut when desired.

On the other hand, when the clamping bolt i2 is loosened, it still serves as a connection between both nut sections but will free these sections from looking engagement with the shaft and thus permit them to be turned in unison relatively to the shaft for adjusting the latter axially and thereby to effect the proper positioning of the sinker bur 8 relatively to the knitting needles and work.

The outer hand nut section IE] constitutes a handle by which the shaft 5 may be withdrawn outwardly a sufficient distance to disengage the bur wheel 8 from the arm and in order that these parts may be temporarily held in their outwardly drawn position, I have provided a retaining means for the shaft 5 which, in this instance, comprises a cross-head or guide block l4 mounted on the shaft 5 intermediate the end heads 2 and 3 of the sinker tube.

The cross-head M is clamped to the shaft 5 to prevent relative axial movement thereof by a set screw l5 which is engaged in a threaded radial opening I6 provided in the lower side of the crosshead M. The screw i5 is provided with a reduced inner end i5 which engages in an annular groove ii in the adjacent portion of the shaft 6, as shown more clearly in Figure 3.

A spring i8 is coiled about the shaft 5 between the cross-head I l and an adjustable abutment #9 for normally urging the shaft 5 and parts carried thereby inwardly and yieldingly holding said shaft in its forwardly adjusted position, as determined by the engagement of the hand nut 9 with the head 3.

The abutment member I9 is loosely mounted upon the shaft 5 and projects downwardly through a lengthwise slot or opening 20 provided in the lower side of the barrel I between the heads 2 and 3, (see Figs. 2 and 3). The lower end portion of the abutment member l 9 is provided with a threaded aperture 2! which is engaged by an adjusting screw or bolt 22. The screw 22 extends loosely through a suitable aperture 23 provided in the lower portion of the outer positioned head 2. The screw 22 extends loosely through a suitable aperture 23 provided in the lower portion of the outer positioned head 3. The screw 22 is maintained against axial movement while permitted to be rotated by a screw 25 screw threaded in the lower end of the head, said screw 24 having a reduced inner end portion which is engaged in an annular groove 25 provided in the shank of the bolt 22.

It will now be readily understood that the tension of the spring E8 may be readily adjusted by turning the bolt 22 to effect the required movement of the abutment member l9 axially of the shaft 5 toward or from the cross head M. This adjustment of the tension of the spring I 8 has proven to be very desirable in order to enable the bur 8 to properly adjust itself to varying thicknesses of the yarn engaged thereby, and it will be observed that this adjustment of the spring may be as readily accomplished when the knitting machine and bur are in operation as when they are at rest.

It will now be observed that aside from the annular groove H, the shaft 5 is of uniform diameter throughout its length so that by loosening the set screw l5 from the groove ii and removing the bracket 6 or nut 9, the shaft 5 may be withdrawn endwise in either direction from the sinker tube.

The lower end portion of the cross-head or guide block 84 projects downwardly through the lengthwise slot or opening 29 and as shown more clearly in Figure 2, the inner or forward end of the opening 20 is reduced in cross-section to form a guide opening 28 for slidably receiving the crosshead M therethrough. The width of the guide opening 28 is substantially the same as that of tho cross-head it so as to not only permit lengthwise movement of the cross-head therethrough, but to also hold the cross-head and shaft 5 connected therewith against angular movement about the axis of the shaft when the said shaft is in its forward or innermost position.

In order that the shaft 5 and the sinker bur 8 carried thereby may be releasably maintained in the rearward or inoperative position, the wall of the barrel l is provided with a recess 29 which connects with the longitudinal opening 20 at the rear of the guide opening 28 and which is adapted to receive the outer or lower end portions of the cross-head M therein. In securing the shaft 5 in the rearward or outermost position, the shaft is first manually drawn axially outwardly until the cross-head M passes the guide opening 28 and registers with the recess 29, and then the shaft is rotated to bring the cross-head into the recess after which the shaft, when released, will be maintained in the outer position against the action of the spring l8 by the contact of the cross head it with the forward end wall 29' of the recess 29.

As previously stated, the hand nut 9, when clamped to the shaft 5 by the bolt l2, may be used as a handle for drawing the shaft endwise outwardly to bring the sinker bur 8 out of opera- 'tive relation with the yarn and needles, and it will be obvious that this hand nut may be also utilized to produce such rotary movement of the shaft as is required to bring the cross-head l4 into or out of the recess 29.

Further, when the nut sections I I! and H are unlocked and out of clamping engagement with the shaft 5, said shaft may be adjusted axially by the nut in combination with the spring IE to bring the bur 8 into the more efficient operative relation with the yarn by turning the nut sections in one direction or the other, as required, relative to theshatt. i

In order that this close axial adjustment of the shaft may be quickly and easily made, the periphery of the flange ll of the nut section' l l is provided with graduations H having definite relation to the number of threads per inch of the threaded end of shaft 5 with which the nut is engaged, so that the angular movement of the nut 9 one point on the scale Il will represent a definite axial movement of the shaft, in this instance, about one-thousandth of an inch.

It is to :be understood, however, that the number of threads .per inch on the shaft 5 and nut 9 may be Varied and that the graduations on the periphery of the nut sections H may be correspondingly varied.

A pin 30 is mounted in the end head 3 to eX- tend outwardly therefrom over the flange il in close proximity to the periphery of said flange. The pin .30 is preferably arranged with one longitudinal side thereof extending in the vertical plane of the axis of the shaft to provide a flxed point or line with which. any one of the graduations in the flange II may be registered, thus enabling the operator to accurately effect the desired axial adjustment of the shaft.

It will also be readily understood that when the clamping screw l5 of the cross-head i4 is screw threaded out of clamping engagement with the shaft 5 and the two nut sections it and H are locked to the shaft 5- through the tightening of the clamping bolt 12, the shaft 5 with the bur supporting bracket 6 thereon may be turned about the axis of the shaft by the manipulation of the nut 9 as a handle to adjust the bur 8 to the most efficient operating angle. The graduations 1 I" on the nut section ll will also assist the operator to minutely adjust the shaft for obtaining proper angular adjustment of the bur 8.

After the correct angular adjustment of the shaft 5 and bur 8 is obtained, the cross-head it may again be securely clamped to the shaft by the tightening of the screw it so that as the shaft is moved axially from the inoperative rearward position to the forward operative position,

aor vice versa, the adjusted relation of the crosshead 14 to the shaft 5 and, therefore, to the bur 3 will be maintained, and the proper angular position of the bur 8 will always be effected as said bur approaches the forward or operative position due to the engagement of the cross-head I l in the guide opening 28.

It is very desirable, if not necessary, in order to obtain the maximum efficient operation of the sinker bur, that the proper angular position of the bur be maintained constant during the knitting operation. I have, therefore, provided the cross-head with a simple, adjustable takeup means for maintaining a close operative relation between the walls of the guide opening 28 and the cross-head M.

This. takeup means comprises in providing the cross-head It with a wear plate 52 adapted to be moved relative to the cross-head. The wear plate 32, in this instance, is formed by cutting a slot 33 inwardly from the lower end of the cross-head near one side thereof, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, so that the lower portion of the wear plate may be flexed outwardly away from the major portion of the cross-head. For this latter purpose, I have provided the crosshead with a pair of threaded openings 34 arranged adjacent the lower end of the cross-head one at either end thereof. In the openings 34, are screw threaded respective adjusting screws 35 which are adapted to engage the plate 32 adjacent the lower or free end thereof. The screws 35 may be readily manipulated by a screw driver or the like for adjusting the plate 32 by positioning the cross-head M at the inner end of the guide opening 26 with the openings. 34 in registration with the recess 29.

While I have shown this takeup means as being made integral with the cross-head 14, it is obvious that the wear plate 32 maybe a separate member operably associated with said cross-head or may be adjustably associated with one of the side walls of the guide openings 2-8 for adjustment toward and from the path of movement of the crosshead M. i

In constructing the cross-head i4 and guide opening 28, the width of the guide opening and the width of the cross-head are so related that the cross-head will have an easy sliding fit in the opening, and then the wear plate 32 is adjusted by the manipulation of the screws 35 so that while the block may slide freely through the guide opening, there will be no lateral play of the block while in said opening.

Further, as the sides of the guide opening .28 become worn after continued use of the device,

this close operating relation between the cross- 1 head and the walls of the guide opening may be always maintained by properly adjusting the piate 3L.

While I preferably utilize an adjustable means as the cross-hcad or guide block M for maintaining an accurate positioning of the bur 8 relative to the work, I have obtained very satisfactory results by providing a non-adjustable associated guide member for the shaft in which case the cross-head as M is a one-piece member, as illustrated in Figure 6, having substantially the same dimension as the cross-head M and is constructed to have a close sliding fit in the guide opening 28.

The sinker tube may be secured in any desired manner to its supporting standard A, as for example, by means of the clamping bolt B, so that the body or barrel l of the tube and the shaft 5 will be inclined from a horizontal, as shown more clearly in Figures 1 and 3, it being understood that the sinker tube may be adjusted vertically along the supporting standard A and locked in its adjusted position by the bolt B to hold the bur 8 in approximately proper relation to the needles and yarn.

When adjusting the sinker bur B to the work, the bur supporting bracket 6 may be adjusted angularly about the axis of the shaft 5 to bring the bur into approximate proper relation with the needles and yarn, after which the bracket may be locked to the shaft by tightening of set screw 6. After the sinker bur has thus been approximately positioned, the final accurate positioning of the bur may be accomplished by the manipulation of the hand nut 9, in the manner hereinbefore described to obtain the most eflicient operating angle of the bur.

When it is desired toadjust the shaft axially to effect the close adjustment of the bur 8 in relation to the knitting needles, the clamping bolt l2 may be loosened to release the nut sections H] and II from looking engagement with the shaft 5, after which the nut 9 may be turned upon the threaded portion of the shaft for effecting the desired axial adjustment of the shaft and the bur 3 mounted thereon.

It will now be clear that the axial and angular adjustments of the shaft 5 and bur supporting bracket 6 may be made from the outer end of the sinker tube and that this adjustment may be closely regulated to produce a predetermined stitch through the medium of the graduated scale on the periphery of the nut section I I, thus providing a positive and standardized means for expeditiously fitting the bur Wheel into proper relation to the needles and yarn to assure maximum efficiency in operation of the machine without repeated adjustments.

The entire device is particularly simple, practical and efficient in carrying out the objects stated, but obviously the details of the structure thereof may be modified Without departing from the spirit of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the class described for a knitting machine comprising in combination a sinker tube, a sinker bur supporting shaft mounted for axial and rotary movement in the tube, a guide member mounted on the shaft to move in unison therewith, said tube being provided with an integral guide-way extending parallel with the shaft at one side thereof and adapted to be operatively engaged by the guide member during a portion of the axial movement of said member and the shaft for maintaining the shaft against rotary movement, a stop element at one end of the guide-way, means including a spring urging the shaft axially and cooperating with said guide member and the guide-Way for releasably maintaining the sinker bur carried by said shaft in the operative position, and control means associated with the shaft whereby the shaft may be manually moved axially against the action of the spring to bring the guide member out of operative engagement with the guide-way and then to rotate the shaft to bring the guide member into engagement with the stop element whereby the sinker bur will be releasably maintained in an inoperative position.

2. In an adjustable support for a sinker bur, in combination, a sinker tube adapted to be operatively connected with a knitting machine, a supporting shaft for the bur supportably connected with the tube for both axial and rotary movements relative to said tube, means including aspring associated with the shaft and tube for urging the shaft axially in one direction, means including a stop member adjustably connected with the shaft and co-acting with the tube and spring for maintaining the bur in the operative position, and means operating independently of the stop member and rendered effective upon axial and rotary movements of the shaft for releasably maintaining the bur in an inoperative position.

3. In an adjustable support for a sinker bur, in combination, a sinker tube adapted to be operatively connected with a knitting machine, a supporting shaft for the bur supportably connected with the tube for both axial and rotary movements relative to said tube, spring means associated with the shaft and tube for urging the shaft axially in one direction, means including a stop member adjustably connected with the shaft and co-acting with the tube and spring means for maintaining the bur in the operative position, and a stop element connected with the tube and co-acting with the spring means upon axial and rotary movement of the shaft independently of the stop member for releasably maintaining the bur in an inoperative position.

4. In an adjustable support for a sinker bur, in combination, a sinker tube adapted to be operatively connected with a knitting machine, a a

supporting shaft for the bur supported by the tube for at least axial movement relative thereto to bring the bur into and out of the operative position, control means including a guide member and an adjustable stop member associated with the shaft and coacting with the tube for yieldingly urging the shaft axially in one direction and maintaining the bur in the operative position, and coacting holding means independent of the adjustable stop member and forming part of the tube and control means rendered effective upon relative movement of said means when said shaft is moved axially in the opposite direction for releasably maintaining said shaft and the bur in an inoperative position without altering the adjustment of said stop member, whereby the sinker bur may be automatically returned to the operative position upon the shaft being released by the coacting holding elements.

WILLIS A. INGALLS. 

